Elle addresses Mindy Kaling cover controversy

After Elle magazine previously came under fire for their
November "Women in Hollywood" issue, in which they covered up actress Melissa McCarthy in an oversized coat while showing a lot more skin on the
issue's other covers featuring leaner actresses including Reese Witherspoon,
Shailene Woodley and Marion Cotillard, the publication is facing criticism yet
again for their current cover of "The Mindy Project"'s Mindy Kaling.

For its fourth annual "Women in TV" issue, Elle
released four different covers featuring "New Girl" star Zooey Deschanel, "Girls" actress Allison Williams, "Parks & Recreation"'s Amy Poehler and Kaling, but
clearly, one is not like the other.

Aside from Kaling's cover being the only one in
black-and-white, the 34-year-old's photo was also shot as a close-up, while the
other three actresses show off more of their physique due to the three-quarter
length treatment they're given.

Kaling has previously discussed her weight, proudly
revealing that she's a size 8.

"Since I am not model-skinny, but also not super-fat
and fabulously owning my hugeness, I fall into that nebulous, 'Normal American
Woman Size' that legions of fashion stylists detest. For the record, I'm a size
8 (this week, anyway)," she told NPR's "Morning Edition." "Many
stylists hate that size because, I think, to them, I lack the self-discipline
to be an aesthetic, or the sassy, confidence to be a total fatty hedonist.
They're like, 'Pick a lane.'"

Elle just responded to the controversy, telling E! News,
"Mindy looks sexy, beautiful and chic. We think it is a striking and
sophisticated cover and are thrilled to celebrate her in our Women in TV
Issue."

Aside from McCarthy's "Jacket Gate" and Kaling's
close-up, this isn't the first time Elle has got into hot water over their
cover choices. The publication was accused of lightening "Precious" actress
Gabourey Sidibe's skin color for the cover of its 25th anniversary issue in
2010, and some readers questioned why the cover was cropped close while the
other three covers -- featuring Lauren Conrad, Amanda Seyfried and Megan Fox --
were zoomed farther out, showing the women's bodies.